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EricTheRed wrote:
Shame its going to be peeing down with rain.. when are the organisers gonna realise 5th of may is too earlier? it was rained off last year too

Not sure where you get the impression this event was cancelled last year,mate....it was NOT cancelled and has NEVER been cancelled which actually makes it the only aviation event in Oxfordshire to have run continually without a break in the 21st Century

Some members of the all-volunteer organising committee were at the airfield this weekend beginning the preparation work for the show on 6th May and report that despite all the recent rain the showsite and car-parking areas are still firm and useable owing to the good drainage of the airfield."

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All eyes on the skies for RAF show

First published
in News
by Andrew Ffrench, Reporter covering Didcot and Wallingford. Call me on 01865 425425

With their eyes on the sky, up to 10,000 visitors will be looking out for the RAF’s red, white and blue Jubilee Tucano, the star attraction at this year’s Abingdon Air Show.

Last year, thousands flocked to Abingdon Airfield to catch a glimpse of Vulcan XH558, the last airworthy Avro Vulcan bomber.

And organisers hope this year's three-and-a-half hour flying display on Sunday, May 6, involving about 20 aircraft, will bring in as many visitors.

Flight Lieutenant Jon Bond, serving with 72 Squadron, is the Tucano display pilot and the plane will be dressed in red, white and blue colours in recognition of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Air show spokesman Colin Smith said: “Last year we had about 10,000 visitors and I think numbers were boosted by the presence of the Vulcan bomber which has a lot of fans.

“The weather on the day can make a massive difference to the attendance figures.

“There has been quite a lot of rain lately and we are keeping our fingers crossed that it goes away.

“If it rains on the Sunday morning then the families tend to stay away and some planes are not able to fly in because of poor visibility.

“Obviously the die-hards will still come along whatever the weather but a sunny day makes a big difference.”

Other big attractions in the flying display, which starts about 2pm, will be the Hawk, and the iconic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire in the 13th annual event which raises money for the
Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.

Among the aircraft displayed on the ground will be a Merlin helicopter from RAF Benson.

The Royal Air Force Careers team will also be on the ground and there will be an RAF Tucano and Hawk display team stand.

Mr Smith added: “There are lots of displays to see on the ground before the flying display starts — you can come along for the whole day.”

The event starts at 10am and finishes at 5.30pm and on the day adult tickets cost £15, senior citizens pay £10, children aged five to 15 pay £5, and under 5s get in free.